The door burst open and I turned to see my friend entering the room in a haste. I raised my brows in surprise, wondering what the matter could be. '' Lyra, are you alright?'' I asked, but she shook her head vigorously.
'' There's trouble, Celeste. You need to leave now.''
I narrowed my eyes, confused at her outburst. '' What do you mean?'' I asked, but Lyra couldn't respond, no matter how she tried to.
I heaved a deep sigh and began to walk towards her slowly. I grabbed her hands and entwined with mine, then looked into her eyes and muttered. '' You can trust me, Lyra; what's the matter?''
Seeing how innocent her friend looked, and what was coming her way, Lyra braced herself and decided to speak up. But unfortunately, as soon as she opened her mouth, the door opened and three guards strode into the room, causing her heart to skip a beat as she turned around to face them. Me who was shocked by the intrusion, asked with a stern face, glaring hard at them.
'' What do you want?''
The guards glanced at themselves, before turning back to her. '' The Alpha demands your presence, now!'' One of them spoke.
Celeste blinked her eyes rapidly as different thoughts began to slip into her mind. Firstly, I wondered if the Alpha had finally changed his mind or if my elder sister had lied against me just to be pleasant in his eyes.
I was lost in thought and didn't notice the way the guards were staring at me. Suddenly, I felt rough hands grabbing my arms, and turned swiftly, only to find the guards dragging me towards the door, roughly.
'' Hey! What are you doing? I can walk; let go of me!'' I yelled, trying to wiggle out of their grips, but it was difficult. They led me towards the courtroom in the Alpha's estate, where he was waiting for me.
Orion stood at the window, his back facing the door, his face reddened in anger. If there's anything he hates the most, it's someone messing up with him. The thought of it made his heart clench, especially when his eyes met with the lifeless body lying on the cold tile floor.
'' How dare she do this to me? How could she?'' He blurted out, clenching his fist at his side.
Suddenly, the door opened, and I walked in, dragged by the guards, and accompanied by Lyra, who couldn't stand by to watch. The courtroom was filled with elders seated respectively on their chairs. The guards pushed me forward, and I staggered and fell on the floor, hitting my forehead.
'' Ahh!'' I winced and raised my head slowly, gazing directly in Alpha Orion's direction.
'' Why did you do it?'' Orion asked, his tremendous voice sending shivers down my spine. I had no idea about what he meant, but the way he sounded, I could tell that It's not something pleasant.
'' Answer me!'' Orion growled and turned to me with reddened eyes, and my heart sank in my chest.
'' I-I don't know what you're talking about, my Alpha. Please pardon me for keeping silent.'' I lowered my gaze to the floor, my heart in my mouth.
That's when I saw it, the lifeless body on the floor, Seraphina. My breath hitched, and I bulged out my eyes in surprise. '' Seraphina? Seraphina!'' I called, but there was no response.
'' No! No!'' I shook my head vividly, unable to believe that what I was thinking was true. '' She can't be dead, is she?'' I asked myself and drew closer to her.
'' Seraphina!'' I called and tears suddenly gathered at the corner of my eyes. Even though we weren't on good terms, seeing her corpse shattered my heart, and I couldn't help but sob bitterly.
However, this didn't sit well with Orion, who believed that I was pretending. If there's anyone he thinks that could do this, it's me.
'' Why didn't she die before? Why today that I made her mine, and rejected you?'' He thought as he glared at me. He twitched his jaw and began to walk towards me, while the elders continued to watch in silence.
"Answer me, Celeste!" Orion roared, pointing at Seraphina's lifeless body. "Why did you kill her? Out of jealousy? Spite? Did you think killing her would change my mind about you?"
My eyes widened, and my throat tightened as the accusation sank in. "No, no. I would never...!" My voice cracked. "I didn't do this! I didn't even know she was...''
"You expect me to believe that?" he spat, his face twisted in fury. "You hated her. Everyone knew. You had the motive, the opportunity, and the nerve!"
"I didn't!" I protested, scrambling to my knees. "She was alive the last time I saw her, I swear it! I don't even know what happened. Please, believe me, Alpha Orion!"
"She's lying, who else would've done this?" muttered Elder Galdric from his seat, arms crossed. "She always had an aura of rebellion."
"Perhaps she was never truly loyal to the pack," another elder added, nodding solemnly.
"Quiet," came the firm voice of Elder Nyra, her gaze narrowed as she studied Celeste. "We should not pass judgment so quickly. There is no proof..."
'' Can you explain this?'' Orion interrupted, waving a necklace in the air. I widened my eyes in shock, and my hand swiftly moved to my chest, then my neck. That's my necklace, but how did it leave my neck?
Alpha Orion turned to the elders and said. '' This was found beside the body. I've been patient. But this, this is treason."
Celeste's lips trembled as she looked from one accusing face to another, then back at Orion. "Please… I'm innocent. I don't even know how this happened. I-I didn't even know Seraphina was..." Her voice faltered again, and she broke into sobs.
At the same time, Lyra took a step forward, her hands trembling at her sides. She squatted beside me and was about to say something when Orion's eyes snapped to hers, causing her to gulp down horribly. She looked away immediately to avoid his blazing gaze, while he continued to stare at her before turning back to me.
"Guards," he commanded coldly. "Take her to the dungeon."
I gasped, and my eyes went wide in disbelief. "No! No, My Alpha, please...don't do this! You know me, I would never...!"
"Take her away!" he ordered, and the guards moved and grabbed her arms again, jerking her up. I screamed and fought, dragging her heels on the tile floor, but they were too strong for me.
" Alpha Orion, please! Look at me!" I cried, but all my pleas went on deaf ears.
As I was dragged toward the door, my teary eyes met Lyra, who opened her mouth and tried to speak, but unfortunately, no words were coming out.
"Lyra… please tell them I know nothing about this. Help me please…" I whimpered, but Lyra stood frozen at the spot, watching as they dragged her out.
The courtroom fell into silence again, and Orion exhaled slowly. He turned toward Lyra, and his jaws clenched. ''What are you doing here?" he asked.
Lyra blinked, and grabbed the hem of her dress instantly. "I… I'm sorry, Alpha. I...'' Unable to voice out what was on her mind, Lyra turned and ran out of the courtroom, her heart beating rapidly.